Play Off: Old Laurentians v Moseley Oak, Saturday 4th May

[Communications Team]

Midlands 2 Play Off

Old Laurentians v Moseley Oak, Saturday 4th May 3pm kick off
www.oldlaurentianrfc.co.uk

Single leg – winner promoted to Midlands 1 West

Directions
Old Laurentian RFC, Fenley Field, Lime Tree Avenue, Bilton, Rugby, Warks, CV22 7QT
Using SatNav the postcode above will take you along Lime Tree Avenue and past the club entrance and into the woods! So when you get to the end of the tarmac bit of road, you'll find the entrance on the left (clearly signposted). Coaches will need to park in Lime Tree Avenue.

Brief background (from their website)
Founded over 90 years ago by former pupils of Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby but has been ‘open’ since the late 1960s. Lawrence Sheriff was the founder of Rugby School.
The club is based at Fenley Field, Bilton, a thirteen acre sports ground with three pitches, (one with training floodlights), a welcoming clubhouse, a well equipped gym and a purpose built grandstand with seating for 200 spectators

Recent Playing Record
2005-10 – Midlands 2; 2010-2012 Midlands 1; 2012-13 Midlands 2

[Communications Team]

Moseley Oak on a rugby mission
It’s showdown time.

Promotion rides on the last game of the season when Moseley Oak must bring their best rugby … to Rugby.

The side will go into the second place play-off final against Old Laurentians as under-dog – a position which actually might suit them.

But they will have to perform a lot better than in their final Midlands Two West (North) game against league winners Silhillians if they are to claim victory.

The match and Moseley Oak’s season went right down to the wire but a bonus point loss meant the home side tied on points with Wolverhampton, claiming the play-off place on games won, 16 to 14.

After an explosive start, going 20 points clear, the Billesley Common side were reined back in as Silhillians took the match 24-20 scoring a try at the death with what proved the final move.

Old Laurentians will consider themselves unlucky not to go up automatically, finishing one point behind Kenilworth yet 18 clear of third place Kidderminster.

A 54-31 bonus point win at Banbury in Midlands Two West (South) wasn't quite enough as Kenilworth got the win at Bedworth to secure the Championship title.

OLs finished the regular season with the best scoring and defensive record in the league but lost three games (each by a 3-point margin) which proved costly.

They get home advantage against Moseley Oak who lost four in total.

The match takes place at Fenley Field this Saturday (May 4) with a 3pm kick off.

Like many clubs, Old Laurentians was formed after a meeting in a pub!

It was created by Old Boys of Lawrence Sheriff School in 1919 and up to the late 1960’s only old boys could play for the club.

If one was to kick a ball from The Close, where William Webb Ellis reputedly created the game of rugby, it could quite easily land in the grounds of Lawrence Sheriff School.

OLs are favourites because in recent years the South division has bossed the play off final.

And their points record is impressive – scoring 905 in 22 games conceding just 251 against Moseley Oak’s 518 in 20 games conceding 296.

Indeed OLs are averaging more than 40 points a game.

And as Moseley always look to use the flair in their own back line it should be quite a display of attacking rugby.

Big performances needed from the likes of Dan Pons and Jon Perks – the latter had an outstanding game last weekend.

And Moseley Oak will have to retain their discipline, unable against Old Laurentians to afford the two yellow cards which crippled efforts in the second period against Silhillians.

Club chairman John Richards said: “This is a test of how far we have come as a side.

“We need everyone to turn it on in the way we know they are capable of doing.

“Old Laurentians away is very tough but we have it in us to win.”

Coach John White added: “In a one-off anything can happen. It is about who has the strength of mind to go out there and grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

“The scrum need to work as one and the backs have to be brave and dominate their opposite numbers.

“I can assure supporters there’ll be nothing left in the changing room. This is the big one.”

Certainly the authorities seem to be expecting a bruising encounter – each squad must have at least five front row players and four substitutes are allowed rather than the usual three.